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The Best Help For Storm Victims Now Is Not Things

Carl Nelson / WNIJ

Even though donations for household goods will not be accepted for the time being, there are other ways to help those affected by the EF-4 tornado that hit Fairdale Thursday night. 

Gathering locations for the Fairdale tornado relief effort received an overwhelming amount of blankets, clothes, food, and other donations since Thursday. But local officials say there is no longer a need for canned goods or other household items due to a lack of storage space.

Patti Thompson is the public information officer for the Illinois Emergency Management Agency. She says the best way to help the citizens of Fairdale is through monetary donations.

“The important thing is, though, is to make sure that it’s an organization or a fund that has been sanctioned by local officials,” Thompson said.

Thompson says Governor Bruce Rauner and the McCormick Foundation are doubling donation amounts for money given to a recovery fund through WGN.

“For instance, if you give $10, then the governor and the foundation are giving also, so then that comes up to the equivalent of like a $30 donation,” Thompson said.

GoFundMe account has been created by Alpine Bank in Kirkland. Illinois Comptroller Leslie Munger also activated the Illinois Gives program on Friday, which allows state employees and retirees to set up a direct payroll deduction benefiting the American Red Cross.

Thompson says if surrounding community members are not able to give monetary donations, they can volunteer for clean-up efforts. A sign-up sheet is on the Village of Kirkland’s website.

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